Make Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Your Summer Destination

Summer is a time when the important parts of life seem to float to the surface. Kids are out of school, and without homework and “all the things” that pack the calendar during the school year, there is a space to breathe and enjoy friends and family. Vacations are part of that picture, even for a long weekend getaway, and one place that is an oasis of resort relaxation, or connecting with nature is Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana. It is a unique area conveniently located on Interstate 10, halfway between Houston and Baton Rouge. With its proximity to the coast, there is a myriad of activities and summer fun that can be had.

So, what makes Lake Charles unique to Louisiana? Lake Charles was originally known as “No Man’s Land” after the Louisiana Purchase. It’s place in history makes it a cultural puzzle piece with tales of Indians, French, Spanish, German and European settlers mixed in with African cultures, and with the deportation of the French by the British centuries ago, there is a Cajun/Creole twist. Oh, and also, tales of pirates who sailed the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, hopping from port to port make for folklore and romantic stories of the founders of Lake Charles.

So, today, you can find pieces of this variegated past with local restaurants serving delicious seafood with recipes that have been simmering for generations. Definitely nodding to the area’s historic roots, Crying Eagle brewing company recently opened last year, and the name “Crying Eagle” is the English translation of the Atakapa Indian name “Calcasieu” which is the parish or “county” name of the area. Crying Eagle has three main brews, but if you visit the tap room, you can taste from the brew master’s experiments! Crying Eagle also features live music and an outdoor beer garden.

If live music is your thing, Rikenjaks Brewing Company has an outdoor patio with a stage as well as an indoor stage. You can listen to local artists and traveling artists seven days a week. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is eclectic, relaxing and comfortable. Rikenjaks serves many Louisiana beers including Crying Eagle, Abita, Bayou Teche, Great Raft, Parish and Tin Roof. Kids are welcome too. Rikenjaks is owned by a former music educator, so it’s a dining establishment for the entire family – including pets!

The area is also known for casino resorts, with four casino complexes in the area. Golden Nugget Lake Charles and L’Auberge Casino Resort sit side by side along the waterway, and both have beach docks where people can anchor or pull up their boats to enjoy seaside comforts of food and live music during summer months. Each also feature spas, golf courses, live entertainment, incredible restaurants and retail outlets in addition to the casino floor. Delta Downs Racetrack Casino & Hotel has a Texas flair with restaurants, an event center, and of course, thundering and majestic horse racing. Also, the Isle of Capri Hotel Casino has a relaxed atmosphere with a dance floor for people wanting to do the two step or Cajun/Zydeco dancing.

In Southwest Louisiana, you are never far from nature. The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road wraps around Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes, giving them both a big “hug.” The trail is actually a 180 mile drive through marsh and prairie lands. The experience includes 4 wildlife refuges with walking trails, boardwalks along the marsh and prairie, and also, you can see alligators, birds, marshland creatures and flowers in bloom, especially in the spring and summer months. It is recommended to kick off your journey at Creole Nature Trail Adventure Point, complete with interactive displays where you can have an immersive experience with music, food, history and the great outdoors.

While in town, there are two other unique local products that you have to try – Bayou Rum and Acadian Coffee Roasters. Bayou Rum Distillery offers tours and three different flavors of rum, all made with Louisiana sugarcane, and one is even made with satsumas! Sweet! Acadian Coffee Roasters is organically sourced coffee that is produced in Southwest Louisiana. In addition to these local products, there are several farmers’ markets with products that are created in Southwest Louisiana from juices to produce to popsicles.

Music, art, festivals and culture are all thriving in Southwest Louisiana. With several art galleries and culture museums, such as the Mardi Gras Museum, there is no shortage of stumbling upon something interesting with a nod to our history. There are outdoor concerts, live music, and a downtown area with all local food experience such as jazz brunches on Sundays to a Zydeco brunch on Saturday. Local music can also be found in nightclubs, casinos and restaurants.